Digital technology’s made a lot of unexpected things become a possibility, including attending a funeral from the other side of the world.
In this day and age, more and more funeral homes are opting to add live streaming a funeral or memorial service into their packages so that loved ones who cannot make it to the funeral can still feel close to the family by watching the service from their home.
Live streaming is different than a video that you might take at the memorial service and then post online after the fact because it is as close to real-time as you can get. There may be a few second delays as the video is uploaded, but viewers will not notice since they are not at the actual funeral. Live streaming allows people from all over the world to participate in an event at the same time, giving everyone a sense of unity.
To live stream a funeral, a camera is set up in the back of the chapel or funeral home. As the camera captures the service, it uploads it in real-time to the web, where loved ones can log on to a portal with a username and password to view the funeral or memorial service.
Funeral directors seeking to add this feature to their funeral home services should consider the following for the best experience for their families:
Use a Microphone
Much of what is meaningful at a funeral is what is heard—sermons, eulogies, and songs. These are vitally important to the funeral service and therefore, it is important that you have the right audio for live streaming.
The easiest way to do this is with microphones so that the sound is amplified for your camera’s natural audio. Make sure your funeral home is able to provide both handheld and lapel mics and make sure everyone who is scheduled to speak is outfitted with one.
Keep the Video Camera Still
While you live stream, it’s best not to be holding the device from which you are streaming. Even the slightest twitch or movement can be frustrating for the audience. Invest in a simple tripod or ensure your recording equipment is on level, sturdy surface.
Learn How to Live Stream Using Facebook
One of the easiest and most community-friendly live streaming options is Facebook. To control privacy for the bereaved, you can create a private group in advance so when you do begin live streaming, you can rest assured that privacy and security are already set up.
When you’re ready to begin, look for the status update box in your funeral home’s business Facebook profile to find a “Live Video” icon that looks like a small video camera. When you click on this icon, Facebook will automatically connect to your computer webcam or phone camera and the live stream screen will appear.
To the right of the live stream screen, there is a section labeled “Live Video Settings.” Here, you can select where you want to share your live stream: on your public timeline or in a private group. If you want people who aren’t connected with you as friends on Facebook to see the video, you’ll need to change the privacy settings in the bottom right corner to “Public.” You can also put a description of the live stream video.
When you’ve set up the camera and microphone properly, you click the blue “Go Live” button in the bottom right corner. After three seconds, your live stream will begin. After you click the “Finish Live stream” button, the video you streamed will be available as a recording on your Timeline. Again, for the privacy and security of the family, you can adjust the viewing of the video to show either publicly or just to your private group.
Live streaming is convenient for long-distance loved ones, but it’s not a requirement for funeral homes. Despite it’s popularity, some families may still choose to keep the funeral experience limited to people in attendance. Make live streaming part of the conversation when discussing the needs of the family and those looking to attend the funeral services.
Since our inception, Osiris Software has been helping funeral homes, cemetery and crematory businesses prosper through innovative solutions and world class customer service.
